Look, shops at Channelside (at least for the weekend)

For a little while, at least, several stores are opening at the struggling Channelside complex.

As part of Tampa Bay Fashion Week, organizers are setting up temporary, popup stores in vacant storefronts along Channelside Drive. Karma: The Shops at Channelside will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday with more than a dozen retailers and designers selling handbags, jewelry, clothing and other items.

A VIP preview event will be from 4 to 7 p.m. today. Tickets are $35 ( fashionweektampabay.com). A similar popup shopping event was held last year during Fashion Week at the former Exchange National Bank at 611 N Franklin St. in downtown Tampa. Popup stores are designed to promote retail in the urban core and raise awareness of retailers who might not have brick and mortar stores.

CAROLYN VAN HOUTEN | Times

Pam Hill helps her daughter, Mackenzie Hill, a graduate of the University of Tampa, set up her pop-up jewelry shop Kenzie Lee Vintage Bijoux at the Channelside Bay Plaza as a part of Tampa Fashion Week on Thursday.